Growth strategies

Millyard Bank is on a course to open by the end of this year.

The year's second-biggest bank merger created a Midwestern regional with nearly $50 billion in assets, and its CEO and executive vice chairman don't intend to stop there.

Dealmaking had been sluggish until mid-July. Factors behind the uptick include uncertainty about both margins and loan growth.

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The Arkansas company will pay $434 million for Landrum Co., which also has branches in Oklahoma and Texas.

The Boulder, Colo.-based institution will now serve a dozen counties in its home state.

The Louisiana company will pay $15 million in cash for Bank of York.

The Delaware company, best known for issuing prepaid cards, has ramped up commercial real estate securitizations. The shift promises to deliver big fees, but it could also cause headaches if defaults spike.

Byline Bancorp is in discussions to buy Parkway Bank and Trust, according to a local publication.

First Financial Banc will gain nearly $300 million in liquidity when it acquires First National Corp. of Wynne.